Officer Biographies

ESTHER TRYBAN TELSER, President
Esther Tryban Telser is a Senior Counsel with the City of Chicago's Department of Law. Esther has been with the City of Chicago since 1990 and has been specializing in bankruptcy and collection matters since 1995. Her responsibilities include collecting from airlines, concessions and other tenants at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway Airports. Following her graduation from the Law School of the University of Chicago, Esther was a staff clerk for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.

JOANNA KIELCZEWSKI KELLOGG, First Vice President
Joanna Kielczewski Kellogg is the daughter of Polish immigrants. She received her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology in 1998, where she served as Chief Justice of the International Law Moot Court Honor Society. She is employed by The Chaet Kaplan Baim Firm, where she serves as the firm's principal trial attorney. She specializes in creditor's rights and collections law. As a former collegiate athlete, she still competes in local road races and has finished two marathons. She is fluent in Polish.

MEGAN KASZUBINSKI FERRARO, Second Vice President
Megan Kaszubinski Ferraro is a Corporate Counsel for Hyatt Hotels Corporation. She was born and raised in Elyria, Ohio, approximately 20 miles outside of Cleveland, and attended college at The Ohio State University. Upon graduation, Megan took a job with Marsh USA as an employee benefits representative before attending law school at DePaul University College of Law. While at DePaul, Megan externed at several government agencies and participated in DePaul's Student Bar Association. She graduated from DePaul in 2003. Since graduation Megan has worked as an Assistant Kane County State's Attorney and an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, Individual Defense Litigation Division. Currently, she serves as in-house counsel for Hyatt Hotels Corporation where her focus is on commercial litigation. Additionally, Megan is the Co-Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's Federal Trial Bar Training course and a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel. Megan is a second generation Polish American whose Grandfather, Walter Kaszubinski, came to America when he was a child.

ROBERT P. GROSZEK, Third Vice President
Robert P. Groszek is the principal of Groszek Law Firm. Fluent in Polish, Robert hails from a long lineage of carpenters, including his father who brought their family to the United States in 1971. Robert is a member of the Polish National Alliance, Advocates Society of Polish-American Attorneys, and is the co-chairperson of the Amicus Poloniae Legal Clinic. Robert is also a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association, and Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Through these channels and others, Robert continues to support the Polish community and their rights. Robert is a graduate of Purdue University's Business School and went on to achieve a law degree from Valparaiso University. Prior to graduating from law school, Robert worked as a carpenter, foreman, and supervisor for commercial construction projects. Additionally, he worked as a supervisor at Roadway Express' largest trucking break bulk where he was a member of the safety committee investigating work-related injuries. Inspired by his godfather, Judge Stanley P. Lukasik, Robert pursed a legal career in civil litigation. He experienced working for the Lake County Indiana Prosecutor's office, the Illinois Attorney General, Low Income Tax Clinic, and a larger plaintiff's personal injury firm. Robert is a prosecutor in heart that continually helps the public and those in need. Robert continues to practice as a prosecutor in all areas of civil litigation.

DANIEL JOSEPHS, Treasurer
Biographical information will be posted soon!

REGINA RATHNAU, Secretary
Regina Rathnau is a Manager in KPMG LLC's Accounting Methods and Credit Services department where she provides tax consulting on complex corporate and partnership issues. She earned her undergraduate degree in accounting at the University of Notre Dame in 1997, and she obtained her juris doctor with a concentration in tax at Loyola University Chicago in 2002. Regina's grandfather, Alexander Janoski, is a past president of the Advocates Society, and her father has also been a member of the Advocates Society. She is an active volunteer with the Tax Assistance Program, which provides tax return preparation to low-income taxpayers. Regina is also a certified public accountant.

ALEXANDER Z. FIEDOTJEW, Historian
Alex Fiedotjew is a sole practitioner dedicated to assisting individuals in protecting their legal rights and resolving their legal disputes. His late father was a Polish Army officer who, after World War II, created and administered schools for Polish children displaced in Germany. His mother, who still resides in the northwest suburbs, was a college student and teacher in one of those schools. Both came to the United States in 1950, married, and worked hard to secure a better life for themselves, Alex, and his sister. By their example and spirit, they left Alex with a deep sense of respect for the hopes and struggles of others, and a commitment to engagement and service. Alex received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Master's degree from DePaul University. For 26 years, he worked for the Illinois Department of Human Rights, investigating employment discrimination cases and serving, as head of the public contract compliance division. While employed at IDHR, Alex attended the John Marshall Law School, receiving his J.D. degree in 2001. That same year, he was admitted to the bar of Illinois and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Leaving state service in early 2003, he opened his private practice where he concentrates on employment related problems and general legal matters. Alex is co-chair of the Amicus Poloniae legal clinic serving Chicago's indigent Polish community. He is a current member of the CBA, the ISBA, the ACLU, and the National Employment Lawyers Association. Very devoted to classical instrumental and vocal music, Alex has sung with the Grant Park Symphony Chorus and can be found attempting to play several musical instruments.

Friday, May 16
Copernicus Foundation